The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-05-26
CHINESE ART
rhs arosivss That Give 10 sush odd Char

rhs Motives That Give 10 such odd Char
A short time ago the British Museum
acquired . comprehensive collection Of
japanese and Chinese pictures, msde BY
MI. William Anderson, for some years
medical ofacer to the British legation In
Toxic.
Amongst the motives Of the artists of
China and Japan, mythical zoology held
. very important place, says Mr.. Ander.
son. The Chinese have developed myth
ical zoology to greater extent than any
other nation. "Their literature teens
with strange conceits, some Of which ap-
pear to be transcripts Of local folklore |;
others appertain to Buddhism or Taoistic
legends, and others are accepted as sober
facts Of natural history" These have
almost been adopted and improved in
treatment by the Japanese.
Among the myths that sRord favorite
subjects to the native artists are giants,
dwarfs, perforated men, who are con-
veyed about by coolies by means of
poles put through holes which con-
veniently exist in their bodies for this
purpose; stomachless men, who, accord
ing to popular belief, "dare not laugh
for they have no sides to hold;" men
with enormous long legs, and those with
similarly long arms; men with tails,
who carefully dig holes where they sit
in order to provide receptacle for the
appendage; and many other extraordi-
nary beings, all Of which are truthfully
described, from Chinese works of author
ity and repute, in the great Japanese
encyclopedia Wa-Kan- SAM Sal dsu-ye.
Then there are beings who combine
with human elements parts naturally
appertaining to the lower animals-such
are feathered men; those with human
fsces, but the wings and beak Of q bird |;
mermen, who have human heads and
arms attached to the body Of fish and
learn the secrets Of the deep from the
murmuring hollow of the Conchifer. TO
this section also belongs the vampire
bride, who lures men to her de.sdly em-
braces till she has drained away their
life-blood.
The tiger is classed in Chinese mythol-
ogy as one Of the supernatural animals,
the king Of beasts, and the representa-
tive of the masculine or active principle
of Nature. 1t attains the age Of thou
sand years, and after passing the half Of
this term its hair becomes white. It Ia
sometimes seen in association with the
dragon, apparently as the emblem of the
power of faith. 1t is also regarded as
the type of wisdom. The fox, again, is
the demon Of mischief, with the
power of changing his shape at
will. but ever with some evil design on
the comfort Of mankind. When he
reaches the age of fifty, Mr.. Anderson
tells US, he is able to accomplish at will
his most favorite and baneful metamor.
phosis into the resemblance of woman.
kind; at q hundred he can take the shape
either of a young and beautiful girl, Of
Of wizard strong in all the powers oi
magic; and when he reaches the term Of
thousand years he becomes q Celestial
and nine taiIs and NAV he admitted
To Heaven Rnt n annesrs he does no,
aIwavs avail himseif ~ this nrivileUe
for the nossession Of the extra tail,
onlv riyes him an auemented cunnins
and csnacitv for wickedpess. The tor
toise aiso nttains a marvelous longevity
and is yariously represented as The en-
bodiment Of a star in Ursa Major. anf
ne a descandant of the first DRAGON. II
Hindoo mvthoioey the tortoise sun
norts the elephant. which stlpport,
the world: in Japanese art f i
renresented AZ bearing on its back th,
mountain abode of the immortals. Tn,
horse is also associated with Longevity
and Il IL still q nonular belief that ti,,
female is delivered of its progeny Through
the mouth. The crane is one OF the com
monest figures in Japanese art: II
Chinese MYTHICAL ZOOLOGY there are fou
varieties. distinguished Iv their. colors
thew ali live to a fabulous age. and afte
| formulating 600 years are superior to tn
necessitv IF other sustenance than water
Other favnrite snhiects of orienta
artists are serpents SOD feet long. whicl
davomr elephants: nine tailed foxes: th
fonr.eared monkev which heralds tn,
deiuge. the fish with tan bodies and on
head the draron' which accordinp 4,
the Jsnanese en ncvclonasflia already men
toned has the head Of camel. the horn
~ : deer the eves of a demon. the ear
| ~ an cx the hciiv of a sarnent the scale
| -